Contents of paeoniflorin and albiflorin in two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora and characterization of paeoniflorin biosynthesis genes in peony.

Background And Research Purpose: Paeoniflorin and albiflorin are monoterpene glycosides that exhibit various medicinal properties in Paeonia species. This study explored the terpene biosynthesis pathway and analyzed the distribution of these compounds in different tissues of two Korean landraces of Paeonia lactiflora to gain insights into the biosynthesis of monoterpene glycosides in P. lactiflora and their potential applications.

Anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-melanogenic effects of the ethanol extract of Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn is a vascular plant belonging to the genus Picrasma of Simaroubaceae family and grows in Korea, China, India, Taiwan, and Japan. Picrasma quassioides extract has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties.

Long-term outcomes of liver transplantation for biliary atresia and results of policy changes: over 20 years of follow-up experience.

Objective: Biliary atresia (BA) patients develop chronic liver disease after the Kasai operation and are eventually indicated for liver transplantation (LT). The purposes of this study were to analyze long-term outcomes after LT and risk factors that affect complications to reduce graft failure.

Study Design: Overall, 145 pediatric patients who underwent LT between June 1996 and June 2020 after a diagnosis of BA were included.

Fluorescence-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Quantification of Infliximab: Analytical and Clinical Performance Evaluation.

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring of infliximab (IFX) can improve treatment outcomes; however, the temporal gap between drug concentration monitoring and subsequent availability restricts its practical application. To address this issue, an automated monitoring method, AFIAS IFX, was developed to rapidly and accurately analyze IFX concentration in blood. The analytical and clinical performances of this method were assessed to establish its clinical utility.

Unenhanced Breast MRI With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection: Effects of Training on Performance and Agreement of Subspecialty Radiologists.

Objective: To investigate whether reader training improves the performance and agreement of radiologists in interpreting unenhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials And Methods: A study of 96 breasts (35 cancers, 24 benign, and 37 negative) in 48 asymptomatic women was performed between June 2019 and October 2020. High-resolution DWI with b-values of 0, 800, and 1200 sec/mm² was performed using a 3.

O- and N-Methyltransferases in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid producing plants.

Background: Secondary metabolites such as benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIA) have attracted considerable attention because of their pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications. Methyltransferases (MTs) can add methyl groups to alkaloid molecules, altering their physicochemical properties and bioactivity, stability, solubility, and recognition by other cellular components. Five types of O-methyltransferases and two types of N-methyltransferases are involved in BIA biosynthesis.

Fecal Calprotectin at Postinduction Is Capable of Predicting Persistent Remission and Endoscopic Healing after 1 Year of Treatment with Infliximab in Pediatric Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Background/aims: : The recent update on Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease initiative has added a decrease in fecal calprotectin (FC) to an acceptable range as an intermediate target for Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to investigate whether postinduction FC could predict future persistent remission (PR) and endoscopic healing (EH) after 1 year of treatment with infliximab (IFX) in pediatric patients with CD.

Methods: : This multicenter retrospective observational study included pediatric patients with CD who were followed up for at least 1 year after starting IFX.

Dual Biological Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis with Intractable Pyoderma Gangrenosum.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is one of the dermatological extra-intestinal manifestations of ulcerative colitis (UC). We report a case of a 26-year-old male patient suffering from relapsed UC with a newly developed pyoderma gangrenosum. His skin and intestinal symptoms were intractable to treatment with steroids, immunosuppressants, or a single biological agent such as infliximab, golimumab, or vedolizumab.

Clinical impact of metformin exposure during Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Increasing evidence has suggested that metformin may play positive roles in a wide range of infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of metformin exposure during Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in patients with diabetes.

Methods: A 3-year observational cohort study of 452 patients (aged ≥ 16 years) with SAB was performed at a tertiary care hospital.

Systemic antibiotics cause deterioration of emphysema associated with exaggerated inflammation and autophagy.

The interaction between the microbial environment and the host is important for immune homeostasis. Recent research suggests that microbiota dysbiosis can be involved in respiratory diseases. Emphysema is a chronic inflammatory disease, but it is unclear whether dysbiosis caused by antibiotics can affect disease progression.

Efficacy of Combined Initial Treatment of Methotrexate with Infliximab in Pediatric Crohn's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: The combination of antitumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) agents with immunomodulators (IMMs) is a common treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). Although methotrexate (MTX) can be a first-line medication as an IMM, most clinicians in real-life practice, especially in South Korea, are more familiar with thiopurines. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and immunogenicity of MTX and azathioprine (AZA) as concurrent therapies for pediatric CD.

Impact of the histologic grade of acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease on outcomes in pediatric patients treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common life-threatening complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). We aimed to investigate outcomes according to the clinical, endoscopic, and histologic severity of gastrointestinal GVHD in pediatric patients treated with allogeneic HCT.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients who underwent sufficient endoscopic and histopathologic evaluation for clinically suspected acute gastrointestinal GVHD between 2010 and 2020.

MRI Features of Multiple Cranial Neuropathies in Guillain-Barré Syndrome Occurring after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating polyneuropathy characterized by progressive, ascending, and symmetrical paralysis. It is known to be triggered by an antecedent infection or vaccination. Recently, GBS development following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination has been reported.

Free antibodies-to-infliximab are biomarker for predicting the effect of dose intensification in pediatric Crohn's disease patients with secondary loss of response.

Background: Immunogenicity to antitumor necrosis factor alpha agents, such as infliximab (IFX), may lead to therapeutic failure.

Objectives: This study evaluated the relationship between free and total antibodies-to-infliximab (ATIs), trough levels (TLs) of IFX, and the response to dose intensification.

Design: We performed a prospective, observational study including pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) receiving IFX maintenance therapy without dose intensification.

Impact of 6-month triptorelin formulation on predicted adult height and basal gonadotropin levels in patients with central precocious puberty.

Background: Triptorelin, a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, is available in 1-, 3-, and 6-month formulations to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). The triptorelin pamoate 22.5-mg 6-month formulation recently approved for CPP offers greater convenience to children by reducing the injection frequency.

Sophora flavescens Aiton methanol extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects via reduction of Src kinase phosphorylation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Sophora flavescens Aiton (Family: Leguminosae), an herbal plant, has been used in East Asian home remedies for centuries for treating ulcers, skin burns, fevers, and inflammatory disorders. In addition, the dried root of S. flavescens was also applied for antipyretic, analgesic, antihelmintic, and stomachic uses.

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of rifampicin-resistant MRSA bacteraemia.

Objectives: The clinical significance of rifampicin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus infections has not been demonstrated. Here, we evaluated the clinical characteristics of rifampicin-resistant S. aureus infection.

Duodenal Dual-Wavelength Photobiomodulation Improves Hyperglycemia and Hepatic Parameters with Alteration of Gut Microbiome in Type 2 Diabetes Animal Model.

Background: Recently, the duodenum has garnered interest for its role in treating metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Multiple sessions of external photobiomodulation (PBM) in previous animal studies suggested it resulted in improved hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance with a multifactorial mechanism of action, despite the target organ of PBM not being clearly proven. This study aimed to determine whether a single session of a duodenal light-emitting diode (LED) PBM may impact the T2DM treatment in an animal model.

Cytokine Profile at Diagnosis Affecting Trough Concentration of Infliximab in Pediatric Crohn's Disease.

Background: This study aims to measure the concentration of cytokines produced during the inflammation process to investigate if there are any differences in response to treatment of pediatric Crohn's disease and to determine if the initial tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level affected the trough concentration of infliximab (IFX).

Methods: This study included 30 pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. At the time of diagnosis, blood samples were collected for the measurement of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17A, and IL-10).

Vedolizumab Is Safe and Efficacious for the Treatment of Pediatric-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Who Fail a Primary Biologic Agent.

Background: Vedolizumab (VDZ) is currently licensed for use in adults for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the clinical course of pediatric-onset IBD following treatment with VDZ as more than a secondary biologic agent. We also evaluated factors associated with secondary loss of response (LOR) and durability of VDZ treatment.

How has the disease course of pediatric ulcerative colitis changed throughout the biologics era? A comparison with the IBSEN study.

Background: In Korea, infliximab was approved for use in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) in October 2012.

Aim: To compare the clinical course of UC before and after the introduction of biological agents, and to compare with the IBSEN study.

Methods: Patients under 18 years of age, who were diagnosed with UC and followed from January 2003 to October 2020, were included in the study.